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The Foreign Secretary has welcomed US Secretary Kerry’s announcement that Israel and the Palestinians reached agreement on basis for resuming talks.

Speaking after the announcement the Foreign Secretary said:

I warmly welcome Secretary Kerry’s announcement this evening that Israel and the Palestinians have reached an agreement that establishes the basis for resuming direct final status negotiations.

I pay tribute to the efforts of Secretary Kerry and his team, and I commend the leadership shown by both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas. This is of course a beginning, not an end. Britain stands ready to do all we can over the coming weeks and months to support the parties and the US in their efforts to achieve a lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people.